Hepatitis C test: immunoblotting for antibodies to HCV proteins in the blood
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Antibodies to HCV are normally absent.
The ELISA method used to determine antibodies to HCV is screening. If a positive result is obtained to confirm its specificity, an immunoblotting method (Western-blot) is used-a counter-precipitation in the antibody gel in the serum of the patient with various viral proteins subjected to molecular weight separation by electrophoresis and applied to nitrocellulose. The study is considered positive if antibodies to two or more HCV proteins with an intensity of +1 are detected. Specific for viral hepatitis C antibodies to proteins with core, NS 1 NS 2, NS 3, NS 4, NS 5.
Immunoblotting on HCV viral hepatitis C serves as a confirmatory test of the specificity of the ELISA method.
[